Electric switch.



PATENTED APR. 16, 1907. C. J. TOERRING. ELECTRIC SWITGH. APPLICATION HL'BD Nov. 24. 1905.

Wimax@ g annui',

y uNrriD i srAfrns PATENT orrron.

oIIRIsTIAN J. roER'RINc-r, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. *L

4ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented April 1e, 1907.

Application filed November 24. 1905. Serial No. 288,948.

proven'ients in Electric Switches, of whichy the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in electric switches of the two-button snap type.

The object ol the present invention isto simplify the construction of this 'type of switches and to 'reduce the number 'oll parts to a minimum'.

The invention is directed especially to the switch-operating mechanism, which consists, essentially, of ay latch operated by push-buttons and connected by a springA put under tension by the movement of the latch, with a swinging scape-lever, which latter in turn controls the movement o't the switch-arm, the construction being' such that the latch holds the scape-lever against movement un- ,i

til the spring is put under tension and then very suddenly releases It to throw the switch into or outof operation.

The. improved switch construction also.

provides for a long throw of the switch-arm, so as to obviate any liability of formingbr an arc when the circuit is broken byopening the switch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is I a side elevation of the improved switch with the casing and top plate shown in section. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with some parts removed and others shown in section. Fig. 3l is an end elevation of the switch removed from its casing.- Fig. 4 is a detail view of the latch and scape-lever cooperating therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the fixed andmovable contact members of the switch. Fig. 6 is a perspective view or the scape-lever, and Figs. 7 and' 8 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a porcelain or other insulating casing 1.for

the various parts oi' the switch, and tl'iiscas- 'ing may be shaped as shown or maybe otherwise shaped as needed. Secured within the casing at the bottoni thereof is a base-'plate 2, turned up at one edge 3, and secured by a screw 3 or otherwise to but spaced from this upturned edge 3 there is an upright plate el, having its upper end formed with a tongue 5, lodged in another plate 6, secured to and extending across the top of the casing. The

' spring-plate tact between the moving several parts thus far described constitute the framework for supporting the switch members and the several operating parts therefor. y

The switch proper, which is of the jackknife type, is composedv of two fixed springblades 7 and a pivoted switch arm or jack 8.

The two blades 7 are joined at the lower ends l and are there secured to the base 2 by a screw 9, passing through a lug 10, formed on the lower end .of an upright11. The latter terminates at the upper end in a binding-post 12 near the top of the casing 1. The screw 9 is insulated from the lug 10 and the latter is insulated from the supporting??A arnework by mica or other inusulationfli. The upper lends of he spring-blades 7 may be in Contact, or nearly so, and have their free ends slightly flaring to receive the movable member. or switclrarm S, as is 'usual in this type of switch. The switcharm 8 has its lower end provided with trunnions 14, journaled in saddle-bearings 15, formed on one end of a bar 16, the .end of the'bar being splitand bent into proper shape to straddle the switcharm 8 and receive the trunnions 14. These trunnions 14 are held in their seats by a 17, fast on Vthe upper side of the bar 16, and also split to straddle the arm 8 and 'bear upon the trunnions 14.

The bar 16 is Asecured to a plate 18 by a screw or rivet 19, but is' separated from said plate 1S by a spacing-sleeve 20, surrounding the screw, and the said plate 18 is secured to the base-plate 2 by the screw 9 and another screw 21, but is insulated from said baseplate by mica or other insulation 13, as shown. The end of the bar 16 remote from the bearings l5 is formed into an upright 22, terminating in a binding-post 23 near the top of the casingl k1..

The two binding-posts 124 and 23 are designed to receive the terminals of the circuit vin which' the switch isto be included, and the course of the current will be from the-binding-post 12, through the upright 11` to the blades 7, thence to 'the 'switch-arm 8, through the bar'16` and upright 22 out through the bintlingqiost 23. Good contact is maintained between the switeharm 8 and bar 16 by virtue 'of the spring 17, which, bearing upon the trunnions 14, will hold the latter firmly in their seats and will insure good rubbing conparts.

IOC

The switch-ar1n and its coperating members are all located on one side yof the plate/4,

"jwhile-thel means for operating the switcharm Stare'located on the opposite side of the platetfjfand theseoperatingfineans I will now describe'.- I

iol i laterally'projectingfliigszjor) pallets 26. 27, and

inidwaybetween the'setwo "pallets 26 2-7 on zio upper end'thereoLby ascrewfor stud 34, but removed a short distance 'f'therefrom by a' this springcross e ach otheri'and j sftraddle vthe rocked on itsfaxis by-mea 2,1 32,`passingjthrtf1gh' guiding-holes siehe plate 6, and these'push-'buttons are' pivotally' connected tothe latch by'neans of'U-'shaped links 33, eachV of thelatter having one oi its legs entering 'the slotforinedin' the pallet 26 or 27 and pivotally secured to 'the plate 25 of the lat'ch. y'

P ivot'all'y secured` to" thev plate' 4, vnear the spacing=sleeve 35, ist. a ','pen'dent vscape-lever 36', having about to thezsa'id arnr's 373811'Atathelower'endthe. lever 36 has a lateral extension41 parallelA with and/:extending for a Vdistance in theV 'saine direction as the {inge-rs 3 9 40, and it is then bentnipwardly parallel With'thegnain' "stern of thevlever 36, 'as shown at 42 gtn'd nally terminates in a tooth 43, paralle 'with the part 4l' and directed away froniz'the hiain "stern oathe lever 3 6'; `Thisjscape-lmrer 36 is 'mounted to swing over and clo'se to the free end" of thev stud' l24, thus' confining i the vspringze there0n,5whi1e'the arf. s 37 andA 38 are oflsuchlength that wlienthe lever is swung in one directionfsay to the position shown in'liief. 1f-the nger40 will be outside the'. pallet 27 v and the finger 39 will be inside fthe palletj, While when the'levcr 36 is swung in thej other' direction-say to'- thel position shown in Fig. 4-the Alinger 3 9 will be outside "A thepallet ..26'andthc finger 40`will be inside the`pallet 2.7,'.-Ih'eittension-M passes under i' randtoithe other'sideothe'plate 4 througlia.

recess 44 in the lower edge-'of the latter. The

len'gtli-of this recess ldeterfi'ine's thc extent f' travel of-'the lever 36 around its pivot 34,

fthe'endwalls ot'said recess being on the path eftheextensim 4 42 the ex-v rbetween the stud and the slotf either. the lformer Vis made o'f insulating material or the dway'of .its lengtlrtwo4 'laterally and oppositely'lextending arirs 37 38, tern-, inating 'in fingers 39 4Q, respectively, projecting towardthe plate itat riglitangles tension 41'is located between the lswitch-arm '8I and the plate 4, and the tooth 43 .enters a slot 45, formed inthe switch-arm S'above the trunnions 14. To prevent electrical Contact lattersis lined with insulating` material, or

'any other means vfor insulatingr the partsv may be employed. When the lever 36 is 'swung 'aroundpits pivot, the switch-arm 8 Wlll .bemoved thereby to a corresponding extent," the parts being so arranged that when't-he lever 36 is moved to the right, Fig. `1, the switch-arm 8 Will be torcedbetween theblades 7, and when thelever' 36 is'rnoved aIllld -itsbearin s to a point rernotefron4 fthe-blades, as indica-ted in dotted lines', Fig.

' The"springblades 7 are located near one 'end f the casing 1,-'and the trunnions 14 of theswitch-aim are located at a point about midway of 'the length of the caslng. -Therefore the switch arm when in the fopen position will be near the end of the casing remote from the spring-blades 7. Thus the two members of the switch when the circuit is broken'areseparated to such an extentgas to preclude the formation and maintenance of.y an arc with anyv current that the switch vwould be called upon to carry.

. The-two ends 3G of the spring 29, beside straddlingthe lug 28 of the latch, also straddie the extension 41 of the lever 36, which extension 41 is .normally beneath the said lug 28., l

to the left the switch-'arm'will' be carried ICO Assuming the partsv to be' in the'position shown 1n Flg, '1, where .the switch is indicated as closedr and itis desired to open the switch, the operator presses the `button 32. This'I moves the 'latch 25 around its pivot, causing' the lug 28 to engage that springend 30 which isin its'path and carry said spring end 'with it'away from the other spring end 3'0,

whiclrfiatter is'prcvented'rom following by its engagement withthe extension 41 of the from moving under'thefstress of the spring exerted throughthe spring 'endBQ back of- 1ro" lever-36. The sa'id lever 36 is prevented and bearing against the extensie/i141 by` the leitjend off the vrent ril'pa'st-the ir'irlerl palle't28fwas 'being of tra at of these- 3th@ new diesem@ time pushed "outwar through the plate 6.v The switch is now tffllld the push-buttonv muette parleur fr by theengageant of wailethepautgz'/ v est extent. the lu 32has been pushed into the casing to its full- The spring end 30 in the path of 28 during the described movement is in t is position still under tension, since this lug has a. greater range of travel 'th an the extenslon 41. When the push-button 32 is released, the springwill return the latch backward for a limitedy distance until thelug 28 and the lever extension 11 coincide and the two ends 30 ofthe spring 29 bear a 'einst both the lug 28 and extension 41 equally on both sides. This return movement of the latch l 25 has brought the pallet 26 into the path of the linger 39, and the switch is therefore locked in the open position. lf it be. now desired to close the switch, the push-button 31 is-pressed inward and the cycle of operation is repeated, but in the reversed direcr tion.

with its upturned edge 3 and the p ete` 18, may all be omitted, and the parts supported thereby may be connected directly toA the casin 1, as is commonin porcelaimincased switc es. f f

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters It will be understood that-the base- Ilate 2 ,l

circuitLterminal and a pivoted switch-a1m; Aconnected to the other terminal, the said switch-arrn being connected to the scape-` leverA at a point near its pivot Wherebythe free or contact end'of the switch-arm has a long,r range of movement, substantially es described.

2. An electric switch comprising a fixed member connected to one circuitterminal and e movable member or pivoted switcharrn connected to the other circuit-terminal, in combination with a swinging scape-lever connected to the switch-arm near its pivot,` a rocking latch controlling the scape-lever and itself connected to operating push-buttons, and a s ring tensioned by the movement of the late end o erating `through the scapelever to throw t Le switch-arm when the said sce e-levcr is released by the latch, .substantial y as described.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribingwitnesses.

CHRSTlAN J. TERRING. Witnesses: Y

MARY E. INMAN,

ALBERT FLAvrN. ff 

